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In the four-plus decades of the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry, the players with stars on their helmets have built a sizeable advantage, winning 64 of the 109 times the two teams have clashed.

However, the Redskins have prevailed when the stakes have been highest: the 1972 NFC championship and the 1982 NFC championship.

The first victory punched the Redskins' ticket to Super Bowl VII, where they fell to the Dolphins, 14-7. But as Redskins defensive end Ron McDole said, destroying the Cowboys, 26-3, on Dec. 31, 1972, was "kind of like our Super Bowl.

The Redskins achieved the once-unimaginable at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on Nov. 25, 2001.

They beat the Eagles, 13-3.

This wasn't any old win over a long-time NFC East rival. It was Washington's fifth straight victory after an 0-5 start, marking the first and only time in NFL history a team that had opened its season with five consecutive losses rebounded with five wins in a row.

The Redskins were all but buried, written off by many in the sports media with five games left in the 2005 season.

Having suffered three straight maddening losses by a total of 10 points, the 5-6 squad appeared destined for its sixth consecutive non-playoff season. But these Redskins proved to be special and resilient. They reeled off five straight wins to finish 10-6 and earn a wild card spot.

The streak began with a 24-9 win over the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Dec. 3, 2005.

Sunday's opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, make its home in Baltimore for three decades before beginning play in the Midwest in 1984.

When the franchise was in Baltimore, not much of a rivalry existed between the Colts and the Redskins, who played in different divisions in the NFL and in separate conferences after the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

Plus, their head-to-head clashes were mostly one-sided, with the Colts prevailing in 15 of 20 games.

One of Washington's five wins, however, stands as one of the most improbable performances in team history.

Sunday's opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, make its home in Baltimore for three decades before beginning play in the Midwest in 1984.

When the franchise was in Baltimore, not much of a rivalry existed between the Colts and the Redskins, who played in different divisions in the NFL and in separate conference after the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

Plus, their head-to-head clashes were mostly one-sided, with the Colts prevailing in 15 of 20 games.

One of Washington's five wins, however, stands as one of the most improbable performances in team history.

Everything pointed to an exciting matchup when the 8-2 Redskins hosted the 6-3-1 49ers in a Monday night game at RFK Stadium on Nov. 17, 1986.

You had the NFC's two winningest teams since 1981 and the winners of eight Super Bowls from the early-1980s to the mid-1990s. Toss in playoff fever, two of the league's most potent offenses and the return of 49ers quarterback Joe Montana -- who was starting his second game after having back surgery to remove a ruptured disk two months prior.

Since the late 1990s, the Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have engaged in a mini-rivalry, despite playing in different divisions.

They've split their last 12 meetings, 11 of which have been decided by seven or fewer points, with three one-point games and one victory apiece in playoff clashes. True to form, their last encounter on Sept. 30, 2012, was a thriller. After three earlier misses, Billy Cundiff hit a 41-yard field goal with three seconds left for a 24-22 Redskins win.

Fifty years ago, one of the greatest draft classes in Redskins history -- one that also ranks among the NFL's all-time best -- began showcasing its talents.

Two of the three Redskins from the 1964 draft who evolved into perennial stars, Charley Taylor and Paul Krause, are in the Hall of Fame. The other one, Len Hauss, is worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. That's not too bad.

The Redskins took on the image of a cardiac squad in 1975. They played in three overtime games, a record for a 14-game season, and competed in five that came down to the final play.

Such was the case when the 10-0 Vikings visited RFK Stadium on Nov. 30, 1975. The Redskins handed Minnesota its first loss, as defensive end Ron McDole blocked a field goal on the last play in regulation to preserve a 31-30 win.

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Mike Richman is the man with all of the answers when it comes to Redskins history. A journalist who has covered sports for a quarter-century, Mike is the author of the two most comprehensive books on Redskins history – the Washington Redskins Football Vault and The Redskins Encyclopedia. He also served as lead editor and co-author of Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy, a photo-heavy book that highlights the amazing life achievements of legendary Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Mike's articles on Redskins history have appeared in myriad publications, and he has hosted an award-winning Redskins TV show called “Burgundy & Gold Magazine” and a podcast called "Burgundy & Gold Flashback."

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About Mike

Redskins historian and journalist Mike Richman is the author of the two most comprehensive books on Redskins history – The Redskins Encyclopedia and the Washington Redskins Football Vault: The History of a Proud Franchise. Mike also served as lead editor and co-author of Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy, a photo-heavy book that reviews the amazing life achievements of legendary Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Mike has also hosted a podcast focusing on Redskins history called "Burgundy & Gold Flashback," which brings listeners front and center with the team's tradition, and he has produced and hosted a TV show called "Burgundy & Gold Magazine." For his work on "Burgundy & Gold Magazine," Mike won first place for sports coverage in the nationally recognized 2013 Hometown Media Awards sponsored by the Alliance for Community Media. He's been interviewed extensively by print and broadcast media on Redskins...